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Freaking Out Over Calories
zebraorchid
Posts: 6 Member
Hello!
I am a first-time poster. I’m sure I’m breaking some kind of etiquette for creating a new thread, but I appreciate your patience with me!
I am a 31 year old female, 5’0”. I started MFP on 8/3/11 at 193 lbs. I ate 1200 calories per day (with the exception of Saturday which I use as a carte blanche cheat day) and did cardio 7 days/week. I bought a cheap set of weights in June 2012 and started lifting three days per week (cardio on the other four) without any kind of program or strength training goal. I love lifting and decided to get serious about it. I started NROLFW 6 weeks ago at 116.8 lbs. I lift MWF and do cardio on TThS. Sunday is and off-day. I’m very happy with my 76 lb. loss, but I still have lots of flabbiness that I’d like to tone up.
According to the NROLFW book, I should be eating 2101 calories on my lifting days and 1867 on off-days. Those numbers terrified me, so I did what the book said and cut 300 calories from each day for 1801 on lift days and 1567 on off days. I cannot sustain my weight loss or be a happy person without my Saturday cheat day, so I still do that. I try to hit the 40-30-30 macro goals, but I am a vegetarian so this does not always happen. Four weeks into NROLFW (I have had to extend Stage 1 a bit), my measurements were all up half-an-inch with the exception of my belly “pooch” which was down half-an-inch. My husband said these gains were insignificant and that I should not cut calories yet. As of this morning, I weigh 122.2, so I have gained 5.4 lbs. since starting the program. My clothes don’t really feel too much tighter, with the exception of a dress that has a band around the rib cage that I could not wear this morning because I could not breathe in it anymore. My husband says this is because I had no core strength before (true) and am beginning to build those muscles, but I’m dubious.
I am freaking out. I’m afraid to cut calories and burn muscle along with fat, but I’m also afraid to stay on this road and gain out of control. I’m sure my cheat day does not help, and I have seen lots of arguments on both sides about the benefits/risks of cheat days, but I know myself and truly cannot give it up if I want to stay sane. Should I cut more calories to balance out the cheat day? If so, how many? Will cutting cause more harm than good? Should I wait it out? How long?
I appreciate any advice anyone can give. My poor husband is tired of listening to my incessant worrying over this, and frankly, so am I!
Thank you, MFP folks!
I am a first-time poster. I’m sure I’m breaking some kind of etiquette for creating a new thread, but I appreciate your patience with me!
I am a 31 year old female, 5’0”. I started MFP on 8/3/11 at 193 lbs. I ate 1200 calories per day (with the exception of Saturday which I use as a carte blanche cheat day) and did cardio 7 days/week. I bought a cheap set of weights in June 2012 and started lifting three days per week (cardio on the other four) without any kind of program or strength training goal. I love lifting and decided to get serious about it. I started NROLFW 6 weeks ago at 116.8 lbs. I lift MWF and do cardio on TThS. Sunday is and off-day. I’m very happy with my 76 lb. loss, but I still have lots of flabbiness that I’d like to tone up.
According to the NROLFW book, I should be eating 2101 calories on my lifting days and 1867 on off-days. Those numbers terrified me, so I did what the book said and cut 300 calories from each day for 1801 on lift days and 1567 on off days. I cannot sustain my weight loss or be a happy person without my Saturday cheat day, so I still do that. I try to hit the 40-30-30 macro goals, but I am a vegetarian so this does not always happen. Four weeks into NROLFW (I have had to extend Stage 1 a bit), my measurements were all up half-an-inch with the exception of my belly “pooch” which was down half-an-inch. My husband said these gains were insignificant and that I should not cut calories yet. As of this morning, I weigh 122.2, so I have gained 5.4 lbs. since starting the program. My clothes don’t really feel too much tighter, with the exception of a dress that has a band around the rib cage that I could not wear this morning because I could not breathe in it anymore. My husband says this is because I had no core strength before (true) and am beginning to build those muscles, but I’m dubious.
I am freaking out. I’m afraid to cut calories and burn muscle along with fat, but I’m also afraid to stay on this road and gain out of control. I’m sure my cheat day does not help, and I have seen lots of arguments on both sides about the benefits/risks of cheat days, but I know myself and truly cannot give it up if I want to stay sane. Should I cut more calories to balance out the cheat day? If so, how many? Will cutting cause more harm than good? Should I wait it out? How long?
I appreciate any advice anyone can give. My poor husband is tired of listening to my incessant worrying over this, and frankly, so am I!
Thank you, MFP folks!
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Replies
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first of all, welcome! we are glad to have you here. second of all, CALM DOWN! :flowerforyou: i know it's tough! you just gotta be patient and keep it up, and ignore the scale. i know it's tough to wrap your mind around upping your calories, since we've all been told over and over and over that low calorie is the way to go. i gained about 8 (went from 122 to 130) pounds when i first started the program. it's been about 4 months, i'm now in stage 3, and i've lost about 2ish (holding steady at 127-128) pounds of that 8 that i initially gained, and my measurements have changed minimally... but man, do i see a difference in my appearance in the mirror and photos. much less bumpy/cellulite-y looking on the butt/thighs, flatter stomach pooch/more defined upper ab area, stronger arms/back, firm quads, etc. i still do weigh myself, but i pay a lot less attention to that number, and focus more on the numbers on the weights i am lifting!
when it comes to cheat days, i'm on the fence about them. i know some people have major issues in their relationship with food and cheat days (or not having cheat days) can be a big problem. i used to be really strict with myself and i was totally miserable. now, i typically eat foods that i enjoy every day, including chocolate and (regular) peanut butter, a scoop of ice cream, etc, and i am much happier. i tend to be less strict on the weekend, but i don't go out of control. yes, i will eat pizza, but maybe only a slice or two. i think eating foods you enjoy in moderation is better than just having a designated blow-it-out-of-the-water cheat day. i don't feel guilty if i go over my calories by a bit because i want to enjoy my life and not be in bondage to a number on a computer screen or on a scale! a designated cheat day, for me, is not a good idea. i've decided that when i wake up each morning, i want to do my best, no matter what day of the week it is... but if by the end of the night, i've gone over on my calories because my husband wanted to take me out to get frozen yogurt, i'm not sweating it. don't let yourself get so caught up in numbers. life is about more than that. how do you look? how do you feel? are you gaining strength?
i know i said it earlier, but i'll say it again. be patient. your body is not going to be transformed overnight. it takes a lot of hard work, and sometimes you won't do as well as you want to. sometimes you'll fail or have a set back. just keep right on going, and don't look back!0 -
I agree with @tartsul. Don't freak out! You are still early in and have more stages to come! I am about to start stage 6. My recommendation is to throw away the scale! Or hide it. I have gained about 5lbs. Remember muscle weights much more than fat. And although the last time i weighed myself i was up, my clothes fit me loose and my body looks more toned.
As far as cheat days/meals, I have a couple a week. Just make sure you log everything and hold yourself accountable. I think that is tottally okay.
That was my 2 cents. Best of luck!0 -
Congratulations on your weight loss! Like people have said before, at this point, don't freak out so much. Also are you taking pictures? Take pics of your body while you are doing this. I can almost guarantee that your body is changing for the better even though other things say otherwise. How do you feel when you look at yourself in the mirror? Although not as important as what you think, but what does your husband think? Can he see a difference in you toning up? Trust yourself and don't give up just yet!0
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Thanks, everyone! Yes, I took pictures when I started, but I was planning on finishing Stage 1 before I take new ones. Maybe I'll go ahead and take some now.
My first week or so on NROLFW, when I looked in the mirror, I definitely though I looked flabbier. My husband (who did not think I looked flabbier) said this could be due to water retention from such a radical change in diet. Now, I can start to see my quads and traps (which were pretty much nonexistent before), and my triceps are definitely popping out a bit. I also feel stronger and love the feeling lifting gives me, which you all reminded me is super important. The weight that I lift is also steadily increasing.
My husband thinks I look better than ever, and comments on my new body all of the time. While he loves me and thinks I'm beautiful at any size, I tend to be my own harshest critic. I need to remember that the me at 190 lbs. would have killed to be the me that I look at now.
Thanks again! This is really a terrific community.0 -
I'm freaking out, too. The measuring tape says I'm not losing. My clothes say I'm not losing. Pictures say I'm not losing. I've lowered my calories again ... until I start back to work (teaching) in a couple of weeks. My clothes have to fit. They have to.0
This discussion has been closed.